Coating application system for high voltage terminals and areas therearound and method

Abstract

A system applying a coating material to surfaces situated adjacent to or on live, high voltage electrical bus work or the like utilizes a liquified coating material stored in containers and is electrically isolated from potential ground sources by a dielectric barrier. A pump means draws the coating material from the containers and transports the coating material through a conduit formed of a dielectrical material to a moveable cart supporting an applicator boom thereon which applies the coating material to the surfaces. The pump means is driven by compressed air which provides the pumps with a nonconductive fluid drive source eliminating an electrical potential or a potential ground source in the system.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for selectively applying a coating material to surfaces situated adjacent to or on live high voltage bus work and terminals, said system comprising: container means for storing a liquified coating material;   pump means capable of pumping said liquified coating material;   barrier means made from a dielectric material for electrically isolating each of said pump means and said container means from potential ground sources by supporting each of said pump means and said container means thereon;   applicator means supported for movement relative to surfaces on or adjacent to live high voltage terminals and bus work for selectively applying said Iiquified coating material to said surfaces;   said applicator means being formed from a dielectric material electrically isolating it from potential ground source;   conduit means for connecting said pump means with said applicator means, said conduit means formed from a dielectric material isolating it from potential ground sources;   means for providing an electrically nonconductive fluid drive source for driving said pump means; and   said pump means being driven by said nonconductive fluid drive source to transport said liquified coating material from said container means through said conduit means to said applicator means for application onto said surfaces;   said means providing an electrically nonconductive fluid drive source includes means for producing compressed air; said pump means includes at least one air driven pump having line means connected with said means for producing compressed air; and   wherein said compressed air communicates through said line means to drive said at least one air driven pump.   
     
     
       2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for producing said compressed air includes an air compressor driven by an internal combustion engine and said line means includes an inlet line and an outlet line and dryer means connected with said inlet and outlet lines between said air compressor and said at least one air driven pump to eliminate from said compressed air produced by said compressor moisture and impurities whereby said compressed air leaving said dryer is electrically nonconductive. 
     
     
       3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said barrier means electrically isolating said at least one air driven pump is a vertically extending mounting board formed from fiberglass having a thickness of at least 2 inches, said vertically extending mounting board also supporting said dryer means; said barrier means electrically isolating each of said container means and said at least one air driven pump further includes a horizontally extending mounting board formed from fiberglass having a thickness of at least 2 inches, said vertically extending mounting board being supported on said horizontally extending mounting board, and wherein   said horizontally extending mounting board also supports said air compressor.   
     
     
       4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquified coating material is comprised of a dielectric material made from a flake-glass polyester in solution with an organic solvent. 
     
     
       5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises a high pressure line formed from a dielectric material for receiving pressurized liquified coating material therein and further comprises a dielectric casing formed about the circumference of said high pressure line to thereby create a dielectric barrier between said coating material received within said high pressure line and potential ground sources. 
     
     
       6. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said high pressure line is a composite material of nylon and butyl rubber and wherein said casing is formed from neoprene rubber. 
     
     
       7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said applicator means further includes cart means, said cart means being formed from a dielectric material having a body supported for movement on wheels, said wheels being mounted to said body through connections made from a dielectric material; and   control means, connecting said cart means with said line means for regulating said compressed air to limit or increase the pumping action of said at least one air driven pump.   
     
     
       8. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said cart further includes a turret supported by said cart body, said turret being freely rotatable in a 360 degree circle and having an opening formed within the center thereof, said turret further comprising a stem extending upwardly and surrounding said opening, and wherein said cart body is formed from an isophthalic polyester or a vinyl ester material.   
     
     
       9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said cart body is hollow and said cart body has two opposite side walls, each of said two opposite side walls each having a side guide formed therein, each of said side walls having an opening formed therein coincident with each of said side guides;   each of said side guided being further defined by V-shaped saddles extending laterally from each of said body side walls beyond said wheels and wheels and wherein a selected one of said V-shaped saddles receives said conduit means in wedging engagement therewith to fix said conduit means with said cart means.   
     
     
       10. A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said cart means further includes a mast having an upper end and a lower end, said mast being comprised of mast segments and being connected with said cart body at said mast lower end through said stem, said mast upper end having fixed thereto a boom connection. 
     
     
       11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said mast upper end includes a spray adapter boom attached thereto; said spray adapter boom having a plurality of spray heads depending therefrom; each of said spray heads being permanently oriented in said depending orientation by hollow support arms.   
     
     
       12. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said applicator means further includes an applicator boom pivotally connected to said mast at said boom connection and said applicator boom is comprised of an extension arm and an oppositely extending control arm, said control arm being pivotally connected with an operator control arm, and said extension arm and said control arm are pivotally connected about two axes relative to said mast by said boom connection, and wherein said mast and said applicator boom are made from fiberglass. 
     
     
       13. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein a spray head is fixed to the free end of said applicator boom extension arm; and said mast is hollow and has a lateral opening in said upper end, wherein said conduit means communicates through one of said openings in said side walls of said cart body and communicates through the opening in the turret and upwardly through the hollow extent of said mast, and through said mast lateral opening along the boom extension arm and is connected with said spray head. 
     
     
       14. A method of selectively applying a coating material to surfaces situated adjacent to or on live, high voltage electric bus work and terminals, said method comprising; providing a liquified coating material formed of a dielectric material having a polyester base mixed with an organic solvent;   storing said coating material within container means;   electrically isolating said container means having said coating material stored therein from potential ground source by providing a dielectric barrier;   providing applicator means and forming said applicator means from a dielectric material;   supporting said applicator means for movement relative to said surfaces;   providing pump means and electrically isolating it by supporting said pump means on a dielectric barrier;   providing conduit means formed from a dielectric material;   connecting said pump means with said applicator means using said conduit means;   providing an electrically nonconductive fluid drive source;   driving said pump means with said electrically nonconductive fluid drive source;   utilizing said pump means to transport said liquified coating material from said container means through said conduit means to said applicator means; and   applying said coating material to said surfaces using said applicator means.   
     
     
       15. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein compressed air drives said pump means and said compressed air prior to entering said pump means passes through dryer means to create said electrically nonconductive fluid drive source. 
     
     
       16. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said compressed air after passing through said dryer means enters control lines extending between said dryer and a position remote from said dryer means and is regulated by valves located at said remote position. 
     
     
       17. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein providing applicator means further comprises providing moveable cart means for supporting an applicator boom thereon, and manually manipulating said applicator boom to selectively apply said coating material to said surfaces.   
     
     
       18. A method of selectively applying a coating material to surfaces situated adjacent to or on live, high voltage electric bus work and terminals, said method comprising; providing a liquified coating material;   storing said coating material within container means;   electrically isolating said container means having said coating material stored therein from potential ground source by providing a dielectric barrier;   providing applicator means and forming said applicator means from a dielectric material;   supporting said applicator means for movement relative to said surfaces;   providing pump means and electrically isolating it by supporting said pump means on a dielectric barrier;   providing conduit means formed from a dielectric material;   connecting said pump means with said applicator means using said conduit means;   providing an electrically nonconductive fluid drive source by utilizing compressed air to drive said pump means;   driving said pump means with said compressed air;   utilizing said pump means to transport said liquified coating material from said container means through said conduit means to said applicator means; and   applying said coating material to said surfaces using said applicator means.   
     
     
       19. A method as defined in claim 18 further characterized by passing said compressed air through dryer means prior to its entering said pump means. 
     
     
       20. A method of selectively applying a coating material to surfaces situated adjacent to or on live, high voltage electric bus work and terminals, said method comprising; providing a liquified coating material;   storing said coating material within container means,   electrically isolating said container means having said coating material stored therein from potential ground source by providing a dielectric barrier;   providing applicator means including moveable cart means for supporting an applicator boom thereon;   forming said applicator means from a dielectric material;   supporting said applicator means for movement relative to said surfaces;   providing pump means and electrically isolating it by supporting said pump means on a dielectric barrier;   providing conduit means formed from a dielectric material;   connecting said pump means with said applicator means using said conduit means;   providing an electrically nonconductive fluid drive source;   driving said pump means with said electrically nonconductive fluid drive source;   utilizing said pump means to transport said liquified coating material from said container means through said conduit means to said applicator means; and   selectively applying said coating material to said surfaces using said applicator means; and   manipulating said applicator boom to selectively apply said coating material to said surfaces.   
     
     
       21. A method as defined in claim 20 comprising forming said applicator boom from a fiberglass material and forming said cart from an isophthalic polyester or a vinyl ester material. 
     
     
       22. A method of selectively applying a coating material to surfaces situated adjacent to or on live, high voltage electric bus work and terminals, said method comprising; providing a liquified coating material formed of a dielectric material having a polyester base mixed with an organic solvent;   storing said coating material within electrically isolated container means;   providing applicator means and forming said applicator means from a dielectric material;   supporting said applicator means for movement relative to said surfaces;   providing pump means and electrically isolating it from potential ground sources;   providing a compressed air source and driving said pump means with said compressed source;   providing conduit means formed from a dielectric material;   connecting said pump means with said applicator means using said conduit means;   utilizing said pump means to transport said liquified coating material from said container means through said conduit means to said applicator means; and   applying said coating material to said surfaces using said applicator means.